Multi-purpose retention clip



Sept. 27, 1966 c. R. cHAMB-:RLIN 3,275,003

MULTI-PURPOSE RETENTION CLIP Filed Jan. 30, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l 12b E51 5" COI/nan E. C/umber/m I BY 2/ p 22 @ff/M7 -5' ANDRA/E 5.

Sept. 27, 1966 c. R. cHAMBr-:RLIN 3,275,003

MULTI-PURPOSE RETENTION cmp Filed Jan. 50, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheefl 2 2LT-'9. 5. INVENTOR C0! aga/1 (amber/w United States Patent O Filed Jan. 30, 1964, Ser. No. 341,201 1 Claim; (Cl. 12916.7)

This invention relates to improved fasteners and more particularly concerns utility retention clip assemblies useful in conjunction with various 4articles .as article hangers, as index card anchoring means an-d the like. This invention is an improvement over that described in my prior Patent 2,097,018. p

According to one embodiment of the invention there is provided a generally U-shaped spring clip which is enclosed in a metal tab. The tab is engageable by rivets upon one edge of a card or other tlat article. The tab has a keyhole-shaped notch .in which are exposed leg portions of the clip. The clip has laterally extending feet portions slidably engaged in loops of the tab. The clip'` has a straight bight portion engaged by a tongue formed in the tab. When a card or the like carrying the clip .and tab is to be engaged on a guide rod or other support, the leg portions of the clip expand laterally and cam over the rod as the feet portions of the clip slide outwardly in the loops of the tab. As the rod is seated securely in the loop rof the clip, the leg portions retract under the rod to hold the same in the keyhole notch of thetab.

In another form of the invention, the cli-p `and tab are integrally formed from a single piece of plastic molded to required form. The plastic tab has camming studs which are cammed outwardly as the edge of the card enters a transverse slot formed in the tab. The studs then engage in preformed holes in the card as the edge of the card is seated in the transverse slot. The clip has bowed camming leg portions which yield as a rod is moved laterally passed the leg portions into the loop of the clip. The tab may have a pair of clips on opposite sides to double the gripping force on the rod.

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide an improved clip assembly for detachably engaging a flat article such as a card upon a linear member such as a rod.

A further object is to provide a `generally U-shaped clip secured at its bight in a keyhole opening in a tab, with leg portions of the clip free to cam over a rod and with feet portions guided in loops of the tab.

Another object is to provide a clip assembly including a tab for engaging on Ian edge of a card .and a clip structure integral with the tab for engaging a rod in a position axially perpendicular to the card.

A further object is to provide -a clip assembly as described wherein the clip structure includes two inverted U-shaped clip members for cooperatively gripping the rod.

Still another object is to provide a clip assembly having a tab with cam-ming studs for quickly mounting and retaining the tab on the card.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects `and advantages thereof, reference will lbehad to the following description and accompanying drawings, an-d to the appended claim in which t-he various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a clip assembly embodying one form of the invention, shown mounted on the bottom edge of an index card, a mounting rod being shown in dot-'dash lines.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

3,275,003 Patented Sept. 27, 1966 "ice FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a spring clip.

FIG. 4 is a front elevational View of the clip assembly shown mounted on the .bottom edge of a card and engaging a rod.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the clip assembly in open position, in position on the bottom of a phantom card.

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view -similar to FIG. 4 of a modified form of cli-p assembly on a card and engaging a rod.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged Vertical sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

F-IG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the parts shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

Referring'iirst to FIGS. 1--5,v a clip assembly 10 is shown including a tab 11 preferably formed from a thin sheet of pliable metal which is generally rectangular in shape. The tab has lateral opposed notches 12a, 12b which facilitate bending the tab in half tok define two rectangular plates or panels 14a and 14b. Holes 15a and 15b are formed in the respective plates 14a, 14b near outer free edges thereof. These holes register with each other and with similar holes in a car-d 16 to receive rivets 18 which secure the clip assembly to the card, with the tab in folded condition.

The' tab has -an elongated cutout 20 which defines a keyhole-shaped notch 20 when the tab is folded in half. The notchA extends inwardly from the folded edge 21 of the tab. On opposite lateral sides of the n'otch 20', as viewed in FIG. 1, there ,are two loops 22a, 22b. These loops receive slidably two feet 26 extending in` opposite directions in alignment with each other outwardly of legs 24 of a spring clip 25. The spring clip has a generally inverted U-shaped conrguration with a straight bight 26, stra-ight or outwardly bowed upper leg portions 24a at the bight 26 and inwardly bowed lower leg portions 24b. The feet 23 constitute the free ends of the spring clip.

The straight bight 26 of the clip is enveloped in an integral tongue 27 formed at one end of cutout 20 and folded inwardly over the bight 16 on tab plate 14a. This tongue abuts the lower edge 19 of the card 16 as clearly shown in FIG. 2 so that the Iclip is locked in place and is prevented from displacement in its plane. However,

the 'legs 24 are free to flex so that the inwardly bowed leg portions 24b and feet 23 spread outwardly when the cylindrical rod 30 is moved laterally of the clip and tab in a direction parallel to the plane of the card 16 as the rod enters the keyhole notch 20. After the rod enters the upper loop of the clip dened by upper leg portions v 24a and the folded bottom of tongue 27, the leg portions engage underneath the rod as abutments to holdthe rod in the clip assembly. During outward and inward movements of the legs 24, the feet 23 move axially in the loops 22a, 22b of the tab so that twisting and displacement of the clip is prevented. The rod 30 can be moved axially in the upper loop of the clip and keyhole notch.

The clip assembly described is an improvement over the clip assembly described in my patent mentioned above, in the improved anchoring of the tab on the card by rivets, in the improved straight bight structure of the spring clip, in the tongue anc-hor provided for the bight of the clip, and in the locking of the tongue and bight of the clip by the abutment of the bottom edge of the card.

FIGS. 6-9 show a modied clip assembly 10a in which tab 40 is molded from flexible plastic material. The tab has a generally rectangular body with two plates or panels 42a, 42b joined by a central transverse bridge formed in plate 42a.

portion 43. A slot 44 is defined between upperk portions of the plates into Awhich the lower edge 19a of a card 16a can be inserted. Two laterally spaced holes 45 are Two studs 46 are integrally formed with the inner side of plate 42b and are disposed in axial alignment with holes 45. The free ends 48 of the studs are beveled to define cams which extend obliquely across slot 44. Upper edges 49 of the plates 42a, 42b are beveled to facilitate entry of the lower edge of the card 16a into slot 44. When the lower edge of the card encounters slanted or beveled ends 48 of .the studs, the plate 42b is exedoutwardly away from the card and plate 42a; then as the studs encounter holes 50 preformed in the card 16a near its lower edge, the studs entering holes 50 and then holes 45 to lock the clip assembly to to card. f

Keyhole notches 52a, 52b are formed in the bottom portions of plates 42a, (42b. Around these notches are generally inverted U-shapedridges 53a, 53h defining clips integral with the outer sides of the plates 42a, 42b. Notches 54a, 54h are formed'on outer lateral edges of both plates 42a, 42b to facilitate ilexing of strip-like plate portions 42', 42" in their planes when rod 30a is moved laterally in direction Dinto the slots 52a, 52b. The two clips 53a, 531; cooperate to provide a double grip Yon the rod after the rod is cammed passed the inwardly bowed leg portions 55 of the clips into the outwardly bowed leg portions 56.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show the rod 30a engaged in the double clip structure while the card 16a is engaged in the slot 44 and secured by studs 46.

In both forms of the invention described, the clip as.

sem-blies and 10a have spring clips locked to tabs at keyhole notches to prevent lateral displacement of the clips intheir planes after the clips are engaged on .rods or similar support members. `The clip assemblies can be manufactured at low cost` by mass productionjmetal or plastic working machinery.

The clip assemblies described have general application for attaching filing cards and guides, for hanging kup articles'of merchandise for display, and for numerous other -uses which will readily occur to users of the clip assemblies.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim. j

Having thus described my invention, WhatIv claim as new, and desired to secure by United States'Letters Patent is:

A clip assembly for a cylindricalobject, ,comprising `a v fiat article having a straight edge, a tab formed from a pliable rectangular sheetmetal bodyfolded in half along a transverse line to define two juxtaposed panels,V

ing two loops at the fold line spaced apart by said notch,;

a generally U-shaped springclip interposed -betweenjsaid Vpanels and bordering saidjnotch, said clip @having-1a stra-ightlbight, a pair ofoutwardly bowedl leg Vportions. adjoining opposite endsof thefbight, Ya pair of inwardly bowed other leg portions adjoining the outwardly bowed leg portions, and a pair of feet extending in aligment in opposite directions outwardly of endslof the respective other leg portions, said feet being slidably engaged in said loops respectively, said tab having a tongue folded inwardly at an inner end of said notch on one panel and enclosing said bight of the clip to prevent lateral displacement of the clip, said outwardly bowed leg portions extending inwardly of the notch and defining a seat for said cylindrical object when inserted laterally into the notch, said inwardly bowed other leg portions extending inwardly of the notch to serve as camming elements spreading apart for admitting said object into the notch and then retracting to serve as abutments for holding rsaid object in the notch,.said tongue disposedfbetween said panels and overlapping Vthe edge `of said end portion of the article Ibetween the panels. Y

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS v 1,489,346 4/ 1924 Davis 129-16.7

2,097,018 10/ 193 7 Chamberlin 129`-16.7 X

JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner. 

